I was talking with a friend the other night about the 2019 Patriots and we both realized that there will be two draft classes this year. Aside from the potential of 12 draft picks coming in, you have Bentley, Dawson, Berrios, and Wynn essentially have their first year. With so many “rookies” this year it got us to thinking which players have had the best rookie seasons under Belichick.
It is tough to gauge success under Belichick. On both offense and defense nobody is designed to have gaudy statistics. There will never be a 15 sack defensive lineman nor a 1600 yard, 10 touchdown receiver or a 1500 rushing yard running back. It is not designed that way for veterans or rookies. So quantifying what counts as a great rookie season, we took the entire body of work into consideration and came up with our top-5.
5- Logan Mankins
- Started 16 games in 2005, protecting Tom Brady’s blindside. Only called for 4 penalties all year.
- Faced the likes of Tommy Kelly, Warren Sapp, Casey Hampton, and Jason Taylor on a team devoid of offensive talent and a QB that had a hernia all season.
4- Chandler Jones
- Started 14 games with 45 tackles, 6 sacks, and 3 FF.
- His contributions are easier to see as, unlike an offensive lineman, there are quantifiable statistics that can be used to evaluate a player. His six sacks were the most as a rookie since Seymour in 2001. His 45 tackles were the second most on the defensive line, and his 3 forced fumbles was good for third on the team.
3-Vince Wilfork
- Started 16 games accumulating 42 tackles, 2 sacks, and anchored the line of best defense pats have had.
- Vince’s numbers are not eyeopening. They could even be looked at as pedestrian. However, his role was not to get sacks or tackles, but rather eat blockers to free up his linebackers to make plays. And that they did. The LB’s accounted for 393 tackles and 26.5 sacks. Without Vince they are not free for 1-on-1’s or open lanes, as he commanded double teams and held his ground from week 1 on.
2-Gronk
- Started 16 game amassing 42 catches, 546 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
- 2011 was Gronk’s coming out party, but the foundation for a generational talent was laid in his rookie year of 2010. Aside from a bad decision to field a kickoff against Cleveland (imagine his still being on kickoff?) Gronk had a fantastic rookie season. His size and deceptive speed was on display as he became a red zone nightmare for teams, and his 10 touchdowns are the second most all-time, behind only Mike Ditka and his 12 touchdowns in 1961.
1-Devin McCourty-
- Started 16 games and was voted to the pro bowl and named second team all pro. Had 7 interceptions, two FF, and 73 tackles.
- The best rookie season for a Patriots player under Bill Belichick was also the biggest tease there was, as everyone assumed the next Ty Law was donning the Flying Elvis. McCourty’s rookie year at CB was highlighted by his shutdown of Calvin Johnson on Thanksgiving, showing just how good he was. And although he flamed out as a CB over the next 2 years, he has become one of the best safeties in team history and a sure fire team hall of famer.
There have been countless great players under Bill for the last 20 years. A lot of rookies play and make an impact even though they are learning the most difficult system in pro sports. However these 5 stand above the rest and had not just great rookie campaigns, but great seasons all together.
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